[vixxann]

Another question folks!

We're planning our trip now and have decided to travel Auckland to Wellington in motorhome over ten days, then fly or ferry/drive to Christchurch where we are going to rent a holiday home for 5/6 days and have a car to do some day trips/touring about in.

We wanted to be based around C'ch as that is a serious contender for settling and finding work so we need to have a good look around (also plan to spend 2/3 days around Welly as that's no.2 on our list)

so question is...
where around Christchurch is a good location to get a holiday home - want to be somewhere nice to relax and remember we are having a holiday - but also want to see REAL new zealand, normal folks doing normal stuff, schools, shops etc. I've checked out some places on a map but cannot take into account the travel / traffic issues there might be. Would really appreciate some advice as we are wanting to get this booked asap cos it falls over the Easter weekend.

have so far found available rentals in/ near... (sorry for any spelling mistakes!)
- Waikuku
- Lyttelton
- Diamond Harbour

[wilson182]

They are all out of town, I am not sure about the travel for Littleton or Diamond Harbour, but Waikuku is about a 30/40 minute drive into town depending on the time of day and the traffic. Its actually not far from where we are living in Rangiora!! Are you looking at the holiday park, its quite near the beach and they have a splash pool and playground close by too.

[westi]

Sumner would be a good place to holiday as it's on a lovely beach and the village has nice coffee shops & restaurants etc. It doesn't take long to get into the city from there so you could have a good look around and relax on the beach at the end of the day !

[vixxann]

thanks Wilson & Westi :)

We are probably looking for a private let holiday home but not decided definately yet - maybe I should look at some of the properties on holiday parks?

Is Diamond Harbour going to be too far out - looks lovely but just wondering if there's going to be anything much to do there and if travelling will be a pain .

Any more suggestions??

[Moorf]

Diamond Harbour is a little far from Chch (around 45 mins of windy, slow roads and over the port hills), but you can find lovely sea view properties for a lot less than in town. There's a ferry to Lyttleton that cuts down the travel time in to Chch and if you commute in to Chch that ferry links up with a bus into the central city depot.

I wouldn't personally stay in Lyttleton, it's a working port and yes, it's nice to visit but it's a bit rough round the edges and faces south! ;) Some interesting shops there and a reputable farmers market.

Sumner would be a good place to holiday, as would Charteris Bay, Governor's Bay, Cass Bay.

Other areas, near Sumner, to look for holiday rentals would be Redcliffs, Mount Pleasant, Cashmere (on the hill), Scarborough and Taylor's Mistake. All coastal except Cashmere which is on the hills overlooking the city.

[Moorf]

Oh, things to do in Diamond Harbour (and most of the other little places I mentioned):-

- Walk
- Eat at Godley House (Diamond Harbour)
- Drink at Godley House
- Walk
- Kayak/sail/swim/fish in bay
- Sit on beach
- Walk
- Go to arty garden centre
- Drink at Godley House
- Get ice cream at Dairy
- Walk

;)

[Moorf]

Some properties I found in the Diamond Harbour/Governor's Bay area:

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/8176.asp

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/7734.asp (this one looks great!)

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/7632.asp

If you see any and need feedback I'd be happy to help, that area is one of my fav's around Chch ;)

[vixxann]

Oh My Gosh - thank you Moorf (sorry don't know your name!)
you are a star :clap
checking out those right now and will enquire about availability with them

Diamond Harbour does look so appealing but I am a little worried about the remoteness from C'ch. If it was purely a relax by the sea holiday then I'd be booked right now but we may need to meet up with people - agencies etc and generally have a good look around all areas of C'ch so if we end up there we know what's what.

May look more at Sumner see what rentals I can find there as its had a couple of mentions now.

Also I suppose c'ch itself but thats going to be pricey I suppose.

Thanks again for your bountiful advice - wonderful! - and references to drinking (and walking!) made me grin :D

[Moorf]

Found a few in Sumner - I know the locations of these so can comment on traffic/noise/distance.

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/3924.asp Great location, albeit on the main road in to Sumner which can get very busy in Summer as Chch'ites pour out to Sumner and Taylors Mistake.

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/1505.asp This one is in the middle of Sumner on the flat. This might be worth considering if you want to stay in something that is a more common style of Sumner house, and perhaps on the more affordable side of expensive!

A little further towards town from Sumner is Mount Pleasant. http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/3009.asp It would certainly give you an idea of what hillside living is like in coastal Chch!

I know you want to have a holiday as well as get a feel for the place, but you might consider some surburban properties in areas that you would be able to afford to purchase a property, Sumner, if you can't afford to live there in a million years, wouldn't give you a true Chch feel - of course, that's all my opinion.

[SharpBlade]

I often feel that St Martins and Opawa are overlooked when it comes to finding a "nice place" in Chch, and I don`t know why as these suburbs are lovely, plenty of parks, houses cheaper than in other more popular areas.They are also very close to the city centre but very quiet, just right at the bottom of the hills (plenty of great walks there and mountain bike tracks). I have never seen any holiday let there, but you might want to have a look around and see if you like it. Good schools too.
Good luck, Laura

[Moorf]

I often feel that St Martins and Opawa are overlooked when it comes to finding a "nice place" in Chch, and I don`t know why as these suburbs are lovely, plenty of parks, houses cheaper than in other more popular areas.They are also very close to the city centre but very quiet, just right at the bottom of the hills (plenty of great walks there and mountain bike tracks). I have never seen any holiday let there, but you might want to have a look around and see if you like it. Good schools too.
Good luck, Laura

Absolutely, Opawa is lovely :nice1 - many live there for the Rudolf Steiner school, the people we bought our last house from were moving there so their girls could attend.

[Tia Maria]

We stayed in Sumner when we first arrived in NZ, which was great for the little ones as it has a beach, paddling pool, park etc. Also a small selection of shops and an easy bus journey to the centre.

We stayed in a house owned by these people:

www.abbotthouse.co.nz

But I can't find any reference to it now, they just seem to have a B&B, so either they've sold it, or I'm just not looking hard enough!

But I thought I'd put the link up anyway as their website has some nice info on Sumner:

www.abbotthouse.co.nz/sumner/

Also they were super helpful and had lots of positive things to say about living in Christchurch. I got the impression they had helped people who had emigrated previously.

Cheers

Tia

Ps I always thought it might be helpful to have a thread with hotel/motel/holiday home reviews for various areas. Between us all we must have stayed in quite a few places and we could highlight where to go and where to avoid!

[vixxann]

Thanks Tia - had a look but they can't accomodate the five of us :roll LOL Good website for Sumner info though.

SO far the replies I have had saying they are available on our dates have come from...
- Kairaki beach
- St Albans, Christchurch
- Cunningham Terrace (above Lyttelton harbour)
- Linwood/Richmond area of Christchurch
and loads in Diamond harbour now I have made decision not to go there! :o

Still waiting for more replies (starting to come through tonight - sometimes forget about time difference!) but if anyone has any info or thoughts on above places please let me know as they all look nice to me :D

[benandclare]

Spent a day/ night in Sumner and found it delightful (nov06) stayed in small b and b well to be honest it was a converted garage, but had superb bed , shower come wetroom and fabulous views :yes :yes
In our experience the Motels we stayed in would have been fine for staying in for up to 5 days or more as most had excellent facilities, this would also give you the opportunity to explore CC on foot.

Cc is our chosen city of settlement which is looking like 2008 now, bring it on :yes :yes
ben and Clare

[Moorf]

Just remember, it's Waitangi Day here today (Tues, public holiday) so you might not get immediate replies as many have taken a long weekend and aren't back yet..... :nice1

[vixxann]

update...

for our time in Christchurch - we have booked a place (a holiday home) fairly central in C'church itself - I think its Avonside/Richmond area??

nice big house and garden with all facilities etc we will also have our hire car so can get out and about to some of those areas mentioned earlier and general research plus sightseeing etc.

Getting VERY excited now!

Anyone around Christchurch know about anything going on over Easter weekend? We are in town 5th to 11th April and it would be great to do some local stuff with the kids. :)

[dean1968]

As it gets closer to april more event will be listed.
http://www.bethere.org.nz/

[SharpBlade]

Hi,
There is plenty to do in Chch and you don`t have to spend a fortune on entertainment either. I find that the best things are free, like going to Victoria Park through Bowenvale hills ( a 20 min walk up ) (nice playground area and good place for a picnic after a walk). There are plenty of walking tracks from St Martins/ Bowenvale/ Heathcote and I guess if you have some spare time, it would be good to try one , just to get the idea (It always amazes me to see nature so close to the city. And a lot of kiwis do walk/ run/ bike along those tracks, so you would see real kiwi action).Going to Sumner beach and buying the kids a kids cone for one dollar. Biking around Bottle lake forest (mountain bike tracks, really good fun) and from there to Spencer Park (big playground, barbecue areas, outdoor pools etc..). Canterbury museum for a quick tour and then a stroll through the botanical gardens. Willow bank is rather nice too. I don`t know the age of your kids, but maybe even the swimming pool or the hydroslide at QE II would be cool. Then you can pay to go to the Antarctic centre (good stuff but I find it rather pricey),to Science Alive on Moorhouse av,to the ice skating ring, and any indoor entertainment kind of place. And so on and on and on..
Like Dean 1968 mentioned, the "bethere" internet site will list all the events happening in April so have a look when it will be updates.
I guess 5 days in Chch should be enough to give you a good idea on the town, see if you like it or not.
Good luck,
Laura

[vixxann]

Hi,
There is plenty to do in Chch and you don`t have to spend a fortune on entertainment either. ...
I don`t know the age of your kids...

I guess 5 days in Chch should be enough to give you a good idea on the town, see if you like it or not.
Good luck,
Laura


Thanks so much for the info Laura - I thought 5 days would be enough - but now I'm not so sure! Sounds like there's LOADS to do - fantastic :raebanana
Christchurch sounds better and better every day:yes

BTW - kids are 13, 11 and 4

Will keep checking on the "Bethere" website for Easter activities.

General question regarding some activities/places I've looked up..
How worth doing/paying for are the following...

- Christchurch Gondola - $65 for family if combined with a tram trip
- Orana Wildlife Park - $45 for family
- Cruises (Black Cat etc) $144 for 2 hour dolphin watching cruise or $45 for trip to Quail Island
- Ferrymead Heritage Park - $30 family
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve - $44 (think its extra if you do the Maori experience)

It doesn't all come down to money but I do think it's relevant!;)

Plus we'd love to visit a market sometime - any better than others? I know there's one every weekend at Arts Centre and a saturday morning one at Riccarton...

[Moorf]

- Christchurch Gondola - $65 for family if combined with a tram trip - definitely worth it on a nice clear day, you can also hire mountain bikes to come back down on.. :nice1

- Orana Wildlife Park - $45 for family - been there 3 times now, what can I say... it's a zoo really, nice one as far as they go, but not very Kiwi. I'd put at bottom of list or if you want to do an animal park type thing then do Willowbank with Maori Experience (kids get to learn poi, walk round little recreated village and watch Haka and Maori dancing/songs....

- Cruises (Black Cat etc) $144 for 2 hour dolphin watching cruise or $45 for trip to Quail Island - a definite must do on a nice day - either of them

- Ferrymead Heritage Park - $30 family - found it a bit cheesy tbh, others who have children may think different....

- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve - $44 (think its extra if you do the Maori experience) - as above, we really loved it when we took family kids...

If weather bad and you all fancy a swim etc then go to QE2 centre - wave pools, huge water slides etc etc.

Go see the Kiwis at the Kiwi House which is in Cathedral Square in the big Information Centre... also a aquarium there if they fancy picking up some starfish!

Punting.. not sure I'd go with a 4 year old wriggling around, seen too many near-submersions!

All are, obviously, just my opinions!

Moorf

[Moorf]

Another idea for a "not so nice" day would be Brighton library. There are Xbox's/Playstations for teens, free music, tv, great kids area with toys and chairs with great views out the glass wall to sea and headphones with music selections. Nice cafe there too. Next door is a little kids waterpark/paddling pool with a whale, and, of course, there's the beach too if it warms up!

[SharpBlade]

Hi,
Yes, the library is a great place to hang around, South Colombo library is also really nice, and like Moorf said, you can book a playstation at the desk if your kids fancy a bit of a game (same for the computers). The city centre library is not as nice, I think. Go and have a look at south colombo, and imagine living close by, we go there a few times a week and our kids cycle to and from by themselves, it is great.
I wouldn`t go to Orana Park either, it is just a plain zoo, not especially big.
Willowbank however is better and the kiwi show is good entertainment too.
We have never been on the gondola, so can`t talk about it.
Markets ? Well, there is one in Lyttletown saturday morning, not a big one, very organic and ok I guess, but I tend to think "market" as in "french market" and I am often a bit dissapointed. The one at the Arts centre is very touristic, I guess if you are in town you would have a little look but I wouldn`t otherwise. But it is close to the Botanical gardens and the really nice museum there.
You can hire mountain bikes for your 13 and 11 years old, and maybe take them to Bottle lake forest (I know I keep saying that, but I think they would like it..if they are into biking). You could stay at Spencer park with the little one.
New Brighton Pier is nice too.
There s a karting place on Moorhouse av, have never tried it.
Good luck, it all depends on what kind of family you are, but Chch should hopefully please you,
Laura

[vixxann]

Thanks so much Laura and Moorf :)

My book of lists is filling up nicely - going to have heaps to do :raebanana
Only think I need now is a little bit more time to do it all!

The holiday rental in Avonside looks very central so it will be nice to just walk to a load of those. But I presume we'll need our car to get to New Brighton, Sumner etc.

Still on the look out for special Easter activities - I suppose they'll get listed nearer the time. How is it for buying Easter eggs over there? Every year we normally do a little egg hunt with small choc eggs all over the place so would love to do this there too! Perhaps just not with the cadburys?!! :wah